Bangkok public transport consists of several metro systems (underground, elevated, and commuter trains), different types of public bus service, a local means of transportation called songthaew, as well as water transport with various public river and canal boat services. Discover a detailed guide to Bangkok public transport so you can easily explore the city by metro and bus services, water transport, or private rides.
Bangkok Metro
Public transport in Bangkok is decently developed, as the city is served by several Bangkok metro systems. Passengers can use 4 elevated train (Skytrain) systems, the underground MRT, the Bangkok Airport train called Airport Rail Link, and the commuter SRT Red Line train. New metro lines and line extensions have recently expanded the mass rapid transit network in the capital of Thailand, with more of them currently underway.
Currently, 7 metro systems with 10 metro lines are used for transportation in Bangkok:
Bangkok BTS Green Line - an elevated train system consisting of the Light Green Line (Sukhumvit Line) and the Dark Green Line (Silom Line).
The original MRT system consists of the underground MRT Blue Line and the elevated MRT Purple Line.
Airport Rail Link - an elevated train line connecting Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) with the city.
SRT Red Line - a commuter train system consisting of the Dark Red Line (Northern Line) and the Light Red Line (Western Line).
MRT Yellow Line - an elevated monorail train line in eastern Bangkok.
MRT Pink Line - an elevated monorail train line in northern Bangkok.
Gold Line - an elevated monorail train line to the ICONSIAM shopping mall.
More metro lines will be added to Bangkok's public transport system, as a few more are currently under construction, while some of the already opened lines will be extended further.
Metro systems are a convenient way to travel around Bangkok, as these lines are well connected between themselves, making them very useful if you want to escape busy traffic and save some money on traveling around the Thai capital.
Bangkok mass transit systems are reliable and easy to use. As Bangkok metro lines do not have a unified ticketing system, getting a Rabbit Card can simplify things a bit, as you can use this public transport ticket card for the BTS Green Line, the MRT Yellow Line, the MRT Pink Line, the BTS Gold Line, and the Chao Phraya Express Boat. Book a Rabbit Card online and conveniently pick it up at the airport on arrival.
For more details about all metro lines in Bangkok, explore this guide: MRT Bangkok.
Bangkok Public Bus
Even if the network of city trains in Bangkok is quite large and still expanding, it won’t let you reach all the desired destinations. At this point, another important means of Bangkok public transport – the Bangkok bus – becomes handy and lifts your local traveling experience to another level.
The Bangkok bus network can take you to any part of the city and its suburbs. The size of the city and the huge number of Bangkok bus routes shouldn’t scare you off from using the bus service in the Thai capital.
Detailed information about different public bus service providers, bus routes, bus fare, and tickets can be discovered here: Bangkok bus.
Songthaew - Local Public Transport in Bangkok
More distant areas or streets not well-covered by Bangkok bus routes can usually be reached by songthaew. Songthaew, literally meaning "two rows," is a local means of public transport in Bangkok that is actually a pickup car with the roof and two benches at the back. In Bangkok, songthaews follow fixed routes and have set fares.
To hail a songthaew just flag it down, and to indicate that you want to get out, press a buzzer (usually the button is on the ceiling). Fares for a ride are usually between 10 and 20 THB, depending on distance. The fare should be paid to the driver after drop-off.
Public Water Transport in Bangkok
Bangkok water transport still plays an important role in the system of Bangkok public transport. As a tourist, you can charter a boat and explore Bangkok’s canals or join one of the Bangkok river cruises on the mighty Chao Phraya River. However, the most fun way of exploring the waterways of the Thai capital is joining locals on public water transport. There are several public water transport service providers operating boats and ferries along the Chao Phraya River and the largest canals in Bangkok.
Detailed information about the boat and ferry routes in the city can be found here: Bangkok water transport.
Private Rides in Bangkok
Several types of private rides supplement the public transport in Bangkok. In the capital city of Thailand, you can use the metered taxi, motorbike taxi, one of the ride-hailing apps, or even a tuk-tuk.
Metered Taxi in Bangkok
Bangkok metered taxis can be a comfortable and affordable way to get around the capital city of Thailand. Tens of thousands of brightly colored taxis can be hailed on the streets of Bangkok.
For getting a fair price, you should make sure that the meter is on. In Bangkok, if the driver refuses to put the meter on, just get out and get another taxi – there are plenty of them on the street, and you won’t have a problem finding a driver not refusing to put the meter on. For longer distance trips outside the city, the price is always negotiated.
Passengers are required to pay any road tolls on top of any metered fare, unless you bargained for a set fare and agreed that it includes all tolls.
If using public transport in Bangkok is not the thing you would want to experience, explore the detailed guide to Bangkok taxi service.
For the most convenient transfer between Bangkok Airport and your hotel, book your Bangkok Airport transfer online.
Motorbike Taxi in Bangkok
In Bangkok, motorbike taxi drivers are identified by colored vests (usually orange) with numbers. They are often used just for journeys up and down the soi (side street) or to reach the stop of public transport, but this means of transport might also be suitable for the single traveler wishing to dodge traffic jams of the capital city.
In Bangkok, motorbike taxi fares start from 10 THB for very short journeys down the soi. If you don’t know the right fare, you should set the price with the driver before you get on the motorbike. Fares to major nearby places are usually posted on a board at motorbike taxi corners, so you should look for one. Even if they are in Thai, it’s possible to get an idea of how much rides should cost.
Ride-Hailing Apps in Bangkok
A private ride by a taxi, motorbike taxi, or private car in Bangkok can also be booked by using one of the ride-hailing apps available in the city.
Grab is the most popular app in Bangkok, but you can also use the Bolt and Line Man apps that often offer a better deal than Grab.
If you use a ride-hailing app to book a taxi, an additional 20 THB is normally added to the calculated meter fare.
Tuk-Tuk in Bangkok
The three-wheeled, open-sided tuk-tuk is the classic Thai vehicle that can be found on the streets of Bangkok, especially in the areas frequently visited by tourists.
Tuk-tuks in Bangkok are mainly serving as an attraction for foreign visitors, as the price of a ride on a tuk-tuk here is often higher than the metered taxi rate.
Overcharging is also quite common with tuk-tuk drivers, so you should always agree on a fare before setting off.
The safest way to experience tuk-tuks as the means of public transportation in Thailand's capital city is using the service of Hop-on Hop-off Tuk-Tuk.
Bangkok Public Transport Map
As public transportation in Bangkok is really complex, the best way to not get lost in the city is using Google Maps. Stops of different means of Bangkok public transport are provided on the map, and you can plan your route conveniently. However, don't rely too much on the journey timing provided.
To use online maps and stay connected since the start of your trip, get a discounted Thailand eSIM with a local internet plan that can be activated right after landing in Bangkok.
If you are only planning to use the metro, find a detailed MRT map with all the stations on all metro lines here: Bangkok public transport map.
The map will help you plan your transfers accordingly.
Bangkok Public Transport Tickets
Bangkok public transport tickets can be purchased at the metro station or on the bus, and in most cases you need to pay for the ticket in cash.
Bangkok mass transit systems are reliable and easy to use. The only downside is the lack of a single ticketing system. While you can use the same ticket on different lines of the same system (like the Blue and Purple lines of the MRT), when transferring between the 7 systems, you usually need to get a new ticket.
To simplify things, you can purchase a Rabbit Card, which is a Bangkok public transport card that can be topped up and used for the BTS Green Line, MRT Yellow Line, MRT Pink Line, BTS Gold Line, and the Chao Phraya Express Boat. You can conveniently book a Rabbit Card online and pick it up at the airport on arrival.
If you are mainly planning to use the BTS Green Line and do it intensively, get the BTS SkyTrain One-Day Pass that will allow you to use both main BTS lines (Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line) all day long for a fixed price. To get the best deal for this ticket, book it online here: Discounted Bangkok BTS One-Day Pass.
If you will be using the electric bus and boat service several times a day, get Thai Go Day Pass that covers all Thai Smile Bus routes as well as Thai Smile Boat routes.
It is also possible to get a one-day pass for the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat that lets you travel between various Bangkok attractions in a very special way. You can get these tickets either at the pier or by booking online. Cheaper tickets can be purchased online here: Chao Phraya Tourist Boat tickets.